This edition of O&G Magazine, with the cervix as a theme, provides a timely opportunity to reflect on the College’s work in developing, strengthening, and translating high-quality clinical guidance for women, families, and communities across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

The cervix sits at the centre of many critical moments across women’s health, from fertility and pregnancy to cancer prevention, and long‑term gynaecological health. It is also an area where evidence‑based guidance can make a meaningful difference to outcomes when applied consistently as part of clinical practice. Therefore, RANZCOG’s clinical guidelines and statements play a key role in supporting members, trainees, and other health professionals to deliver safe, effective, and equitable care in these moments.

Clinical Guidelines Informing the Care of the Cervix

Several current RANZCOG clinical guidelines directly inform best practice relating to cervical health. They include:

• Cervical Cancer Screening in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (C‑Gyn 19) supports clinicians to navigate complex screening pathways and ensures that women receive timely, evidence‑based prevention and follow‑up care.
• Measurement of Cervical Length for Prediction of Preterm Birth (C‑Obs 27) guides obstetric practice to reduce the risk of preterm birth, one of the leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality.
• Guidelines for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination (C‑Gyn 18) underpin preventive care and support Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand’s shared ambition toward the elimination of cervical cancer.

Together, these guidelines demonstrate how robust evidence, when translated into clear clinical recommendations, supports health professionals across diverse settings – from health service to primary care – to make informed decisions that have real and lasting impacts on women’s lives.

Five Years of Evidence‑based Guidelines

This year, the Research and Policy Team marks five years of evidence‑based clinical guideline development at RANZCOG, a milestone that reflects both cultural and practical change within the College. In 2020, RANZCOG had one evidence‑based guideline, focused on intrapartum surveillance, alongside 84 clinical guidance statements. At that time, a survey of College members highlighted strong support for guideline development aligned with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) standards, recognising the value of consistency, transparency, and methodological rigour.

In response, the College invested in building a sustainable, best practice approach to guideline development. The Research and Policy Team developed the Handbook for the Development of Evidence‑Based Guidelines, which sets out a robust, transparent process grounded in systematic review, multidisciplinary expertise, lived experience input, and clear governance.

Since establishing this approach, RANZCOG has:

• Transitioned many existing clinical guidance statements into fully developed, evidence‑based guidelines.
• Withdrawn 19 clinical statements where guidelines or external evidence now provide more appropriate guidance.
• Published 21 new, updated, or signposted evidence‑based guidelines, including the Australian Living Evidence Guideline: Endometriosis.

This change goes beyond how guidance is presented. It reflects the College’s commitment to ensuring its recommendations are credible, up to date, and practical for clinical care.

Impact Beyond the Page

For Fellows and trainees, access to trusted, evidence‑based guidelines supports confidence in practice, professional accountability, and consistency across jurisdictions. For other health professionals, RANZCOG guidance strengthens multidisciplinary care by aligning practice and expectations. Most importantly, for women and families, this work translates into more timely screening, safer pregnancies, better management of complex conditions, and improved long‑term health outcomes.

The cervix may be a single anatomical structure, but the care surrounding it speaks to broader themes of prevention, early intervention, equity, and respect for women’s experiences. Through our continued investment in evidence‑based guideline development, RANZCOG supports care that is clinically sound and meaningful in the real lives of those we serve.

As we look ahead, the College remains committed to strengthening our clinical guidance program, responding to emerging evidence, and working in partnership with members, consumers, and health systems to ensure our guidance continues to make a difference where it matters most.

Get Involved

Opportunities for RANZCOG members to participate in clinical guideline development and to provide feedback on draft clinical guidelines are advertised through Connect. Please keep an eye out in 2026. To access current clinical guidelines and statements, visit the RANZCOG website. We look forward to working with members to support and advance clinical practice in 2026 and beyond.

Contact Us

To connect with the RANZCOG Research and Policy Team, or to provide feedback on clinical guidelines and statements, or patient information, please contact the team at [email protected].